Burial-vault.



F. E. ARNDT.

BURIAL VAULT. APPLCATION FILED MAY5, 1915.

1,144,579 Patented June 29, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOTGLITHQ. WASHINGTDN. D C.

. ELAERNDLOFGALION, OHIQ ASSIGNOR TO DAVID C. BOYD, OF GALION, OHIO.

BURIAL.-VAU'LT;

Specificaton of Letters Patent.

PatentedJnne 29, 19315.

i App1ieatibnfi1d`May 5,1915, Seril'No. 26,004.

T all whom ttmay-concern" B e it known that 13, FANKLN' E. ARNDT; a cit-izen of the` United States, residing-at Galion, in' the County' of Crawford andi State of'"( )hio', have invented certain new' and useful Improvemerits in BurialsVaults, (Case Ag) of'Which-the foliowingisa specification p This invention comprehends` certain -n'ew and usefulimproyementsin burial vaults, and rel'ates particularly-to doorsor closures therefor: i

The invention has for its primary` object a Very simple, durable and eflieient Construction= of vault door or clb'sureofthe'typedesigned to -eifectua'lly prevent surreptitous or unauthorized access to the Vault, the door* looking' devices* being operable from the eXt-'erior of the door or closure, and

means being provided' whereby when the cannot be subsedoor is once locked it quent-ly opened;

A further object of the invention is to provide ad'eviee of'this character inwhich,

in the` operation of looking the door, the` locking-inembers are first moved' outwardly toward and beyond themargin of the door and into engagement with aninternal flange which extends around the body portion of the Vault, and subsequentl y, by the application of the sealing'cap, a* rockingmovement or leverage action is imparted to the=locking members whereby the' closure is compressed ti 'htl a 'ainst said flan 'e or a` asket or the' c .V b e like interposed between'` the same and the door.

A still further object of the" invention is to providea deviee of this character wherein the` parte may beyery cheaply manufactured and easily assembled, the parts being so few and of such simple Construction, that material economies in* nranu'fa'cture are effected, and' the- Vault capable of being sold at a relatively low` priee and yet at a large profit. And the inyention alsoaims to generally improve devices ofthis class so` as to render'` them more useful. and commercially desirable. i e

lVith: theseand other object's in View, as will more* fully appear as the description proceeds, the intention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combina tions of the parte that I shall hereinafter more fully describe and claim.

For a full Understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which, e

Figure 1 is a sectional View of a burial Vault' embodying the improvements of this invention, the View being taken from the inside of the door or closure and showing the' parts in locked position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View with the locking members extended, and with the scaling cap just about to be applied. Fig. 3 is a f'agmentary sectional View showing how the application of the scaling cap will rock the locking members so as to tightly compress the door against the internal flange with which the body of the vault is provided. Fig. 4 is a face View of the revoluble actuating device for the looking meinbers, showing the rib formed thereon in the form of an involute spiral, and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View through the actuating devices hereinafter specifically referred to.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and' designated in all of the views of the accompanyingdrawing by like reference characters.

Rcferring to the drawing, the numeral l designates the body portion of a burial vault, the same being constructed in any desired shape, size, or design, within the purview of' my invention, and 2 designates the door or closure. The body portion l of the Vault isof the end-opening type, in the present' embodiment of the invention, and is provided a-t its open. end with an internal fiange`3, as best indicated in Fig. 2. The door 2 is designed to abut against this flange, in closed position, or against a gasket et interposed between the same and the door.

Applied' to the rear or inner face of the door 2 areany desired number of locking members 5, the same being in the form of frames and of any desired number, there being four of. these in the present instance. The looking members 5 include looking fingers 6 of any desired number and bifurcated, as shown, so as to embrace studs or bolts 7 i which extend through the door 2,

- I bers 5, or rather the fingers G thereof, are

trated in Fig. 5.

as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. studs or bolts 7 assist in holding the looking members 5 in place and in guiding said members in their movements. Preferably the outer extremities of the looking mem beveled, as at 8, for wedging engagement with the inner face of the margmal fiange 3,

and preferably the looking members are for-med with any desired number of bosses 9 to engage the inner face of the door 2 so as to hold the parts in their proper position.

Each of the looking members 5 is formed at its inner end with a shank 10, andreach shank s provided with any desired number of teeth or lugs 11 which engage with a spiral rib or groove 12 formed on the inner face of a revoluble actuating member 13 shown in detail in Fig. 4, and in section in Figs. 2 and 3. The actuating member 13 is provided with a tubular outwardly eX- tending stem 14 which projects outwardly through the door or closure 2 and which is non-oiroular on its outer face, as best illus- Surrounding the stem 14 is the outwardly extending sleeve 15, which forms an integral part of a disk 16 that is applied to the inner face of the door 2 and which is formed on its periphery with ratchet teeth 17 designed for engagement by a spring pressed pawl 18 pivotally seoured to` the rear or inner face of the door. The stem 15 is revolubly mounted in an opening formed in the door and is provided on its exterior wall with screwthreads 19 to receive the internal threads that are formed on a scaling cap' 20, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. V

Mounted within the hollow stem 14 of the revoluble actuating member 13 for the locking members, is a rod or bolt 21, the same being enoiroled by a helical spring 22 which bears at one end against a nut 23 and reacts at its other end against the inner end of said stem. The rod 21 projects inwardly beyond the inner face of the actuating member 13 and has secured to it a cross-head 24 which is oruciformin plan view, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The arms of the crosshead 24 are ohanneled, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, to receive and accommodate the inner extremities of the shanks 10 of the looking members 5. i

From the foregoing description in/ connection with the acoompanying drawing, the operation of my improved vault door or closure will be apparent. In the practical use of the devioe, after the casket has been inserted into the vault, the door 2 is applied' applied to the hexagonal or outer eXtremity' These of the hollow stem 14 and the actuating member 13 is turned in such a directionhat, through the instrumentality of thein t, volute spiral 12 and its engagement With the embers willvbe moved outwardly ina plane f-,parallel to the plane of the door, whereby 'lthe outer extremities 8 of the looking members will pass behind the fiange 3 and initially secure the door in its locked or` closed position. i Subsequently, the scaling cap 20 is applied, 'and as it is screwed on the threaded sleeve 15. of the looking dial. or

disk 16 it will finally, as is manifest, abuti against the outer end of the stem 14, where- 'upon a further screwing on, or inward movement of, the scaling cap, will obviously move thestem 14 and the looking .member 13 of which it forms a part, inwardly, `and the inner ends of the shanks 10 of the looks ing members 5` will also be moved inwardly whereby the looking members are rocked upon their outer extremities as fulorums, and the door 2 will be oompressed still more firmly against .the fiange 3 or the interposed gasket 4. In this movement of the looking members 5, the cross-head 24 will naturally yield against the tension of. the spring 22, while at the same time such cross-head will prevent any lateral movement of, or strain upon, the looking members, and they will take the oblique positions illustrated clearly in Fig. 3. e v

Thus it will be seen that there is a compound movement of the looking members; first, a sliding movement in an outward direotion parallel to the plane of the door 2, and subsequently a rocking movement in a plane at right angles to the plane of the door. By the engagement of the pawl 18 with the teeth 17 of the looking disk or dial 16, it is .evident that after the door has once from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended olaims.

What is claimed, is

1. A vault door, looking members applied to the rear face thereof, an actuating devioe, a support carried by the door and in which the actuating devioe is mounted, the support being revolublymounted in the door and the aotuating devioe .being movable aXially independently of the support, said actuating devioe being op'eratively connectedto the looking members whereby a turning movement of the aotuating devioe will move the lock- 'eethor lugs 11 of the shanks 10, the looking r i ing members outWarclly 'ini a plane sub'- stantially parallel to the door, and means.

for moving said actuating device axia lly and nward in its: supportvwhereby to efi'ect a rocking movement upon the' looking members.

" 2. A vault door, looking members appled to the rear face thereof, an: actuating device,..

a sleeve mounted for rotary movement in the door about a fixed axis, the actuating devce being mounted in the sleeve and movable revolubly therewith but capable of an: aXial movement independently thereof, said actuating; device being. operativel y connected-to to the rear face thereof, an actuating device,`

a sleeve mounted for revoluble movement about a fixed aXis in the door alocking dial movable With said sleeve, the aotuating device being mounted in the sleeve andiheld to turn thereWith but capable of axial movei ment therein, said` actuating device being operatively connected: to the looking members Whereby a turning movement of the actuating device` Will move the looking members outwardly ina plane' substantially parallel to the ating device a XiallyWhereby to etfect a rocking movement upon the looking members,

and means co-acting With the looking dial for holding the looking members against retraction, as set forth. i

1. A vault door, looking members applied to the rear face thereof, an actuating device revolubly mounted in the doo-r and free to slide inwardly therein independently of an rotary movement, said actuating devioe being operatively connected to the locking members Whereby a turning movement of the actuating de vice Will move the locking members outwardly, and means for sliding the actuating device inwardly in an i aXial direction Whereby toefect a rocking movement upon the looking members.

5. In a vault door, the combination With looking members capable of a compound movement, namely, a. sliding movement parallel to the face of the door and a rocking movement at right angles to the first named movement, an actuating device mounted in the door and operable' from the exterior thereof, and means for olosing the outer end of the aotuating device and for automatically simultaneously moving the actuatng devce inwardly, there being an operative connection between the inner ende door, means for moving the actu-` of the looking members and: the actuating device.

6. A vault door, looking members applied to the rear face thereof and capable of a compound movement, namely, a sliding movement parallel to the face of the door and a rocking movement at right angles to the first. named movement, a sleeve revolubly mounted in: the door, an actuating devioe mounted in said sleeve and held to turn therewith but movable inwardly independentlyof the sleeve,said` actuating device projeeting outwardly like the sleeve from the outer face of the door, an operative connection between the inner ends of the looking members and said actuating devioe, and a sealingoap applicable upon the sleeve and adapted to abut against the outer end of the actuating devioe upon engagement With the sleeve, Whereby When the sealing cap is applied to` the sleeve, the actuating device Will be moved inwardly.

7. A vault door, looking members applied to' the rear face thereof and capable of a compound movement, namely, a movement Parallel to the face of the door and a rocking movement at right angles to the first named movement, an actuating device provided With a spiral rib With Which the inner enols of the looking members movably engage, said a'ctuating devoe being also provided With a` stem projecting o utwardly beyond the outer face of the door, a sleeve revolubly mounted in the door and projecting outwardly therefrom but movable longitudinally thereof and'` normally projecting beyond the outer end thereof, and a scaling cap adapted to be screwed upon the sleeve and to abut against the outer end of said stem, as and for the purpose specified.

8. A vault door, looking members mounted upon the rear face thereof and oapable of a compound movement, namely, a sliding movement parallel to the face of the door, and a rocking movement at right angles to the first named movement, a sleeve revolubly mounted in the door and projecting from the outer face thereof, an actuating devioe mounted in said sleeve, the engaging Walls of said sleeve and actnatng device being such as to compel the movement of both of these parts in a rotary direction While allowing for a longitudinal movement of the stem relative to the sleeve, the actuating device being formed on its inner face With a spiral rib and the inner ends of the looking members being formed With teeth engagng said rib, and a scaling cap adapted to be sorewed upon said sleeve and engage the outer end of the stem, as and for the purpose set for-th.

9. A. vault door, looking members mounted upon the rear face thereof and capable of a compound movement, namely, a slid ing movement parallel to the face of the door, and a rocking movement at right angles to the first named movement, a sleeve revolubly mounted in the door and projecting from the forward face thereof, an actuating device operatively connected to the 'looking members whereby a rotary movement of the actuating device will impart to the locking members said first named movement, said actuating device being provided with a stern mounted in said sleeve, theengaging walls of the stem and sleeve being non-circular and the stem normally projecting beyond the end of the sleeve whereby a wrench or the like may be applied thereto, and a sealing cap adap-ted to be screwed upon the sleeve and to engage the outer end ofsaid stem, as and for the purpese set forth. v

10. A vault door, looking members mounted upon the rear face thereof and capable of a compound movement, namely, a sliding movement parallel to the face of the door and 'a rocking movement at right angles to said first named movement, a sleeve revolubly mounted in thedoor, an actuating device provided .with a hollow stem and mounted in the sleeve, the stem being held to turn with the sleeve but capable of an inward and outward movement independently of the sleeve, the actuating device being formed on its inner face with a spiral groove, and the locking members being formed 'on their inner ends with teeth engagng sad groove, a cross-head formed.

with channeled bars in which the inner ends of the looking members are received, a rod Secured to said cross head and extending' through the actuatng device into thevstem` .thereof, a spring encrclmg said rod wthn device formed on its rear face with a spiral groove in which said teeth are mounted to work, a sleeve revolubly mounted in the door, a looking dial Secured to the inner end of said sleeve and mounted upon the rear face of the doorand interposed between the same and the actuating device, said actuating device being formed with a non-circular hollow stem projecting outwardly into and through the sleeve, the sleeve being formed with' a correspondingly shaped inner wall engaging the exterior surface of ,the stem, a

and bearing against said nut and the actuating device,the stem of the actuating device being longer-'than the sleeve and protruding V therefrom, the sleeve having its periphery threaded, a scaling cap adapted to screw upon said sleeve and to abut against the outer end of said stem, the looking dial being formed on its periphery with ratchet teeth, and a pawl pivotally mounted upon the rear face of the door and engageable` with said teeth, as and for the purpose set forth.

- 12. A vault door, looking members applied to the rear face thereof, an actuating device provided with a stem projecting outwardly throughthe door and mounted for revoluble movement therein as well as capable of having a sliding movement in an aXial direction, and an operative connection between' the looking members and said actuating device, whereby a revoluble movement of the actuating device will move the locking members outwardly in a plane substantially parallel to the 'plane of the door, and an inward' sliding movement ofthe same actuating device will rock the locking members in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the door. i

13. A vault door,` looking members mounted upon the rear face thereof, an actuating deviceprovided With a stem'projecting outwardly through' the door, and operable from the outer face of the latter, said stem being nounted for a sliding movement in the door in a direction longtudinally of the stem and held for a rotary movement in the door, a spring-pressed guiding device carried by said actuating device, the locking members being interposed between said actuating device and guiding device, and an operative connection between said locking members and the actuating device whereby a rotary movement of said actuating device will movethe looking members outwardly in a plane substantially parallel to the plane outwardly r of the door and an inward sliding movement i stern, a spring engaging said rod and aotu- In testmony Whereof I affix my signature atng devce tendng to move the gudng dein presence of two witnesses. vce toward the -actuatng device, the looking' members being nterposed between the actu- FRANKLIN ARNDT' atng deVce and the gudng' devce, and an Wtnesses:

operative connection between the looking CLEo CoNNoLLY,

members and the actuatng devce. R. C. TEAOHE.

copies of this patent may 'ne obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

r Washington, D. G." 

